All Posts in "Month: October 2017"

Audrey Stacy (middle, seated) is seen here at the Pacific Science Center in Seattle, one of many places in the U.S. and other countries she visited during a life filled with wanderlust.

As I sit to write this, we are in that beautiful transition to fall. The trees have had their glory days, grow older and are beginning to wither, but not before that one last show of color and spirit. 

Our lives are a bit like that. We start out as little buds and grow through the years with all the experiences that life gives us. At the end of our journey, we hope for a beautiful, vibrant show.

Audrey Stacy had that life and many journeys. She is the one you have probably seen in more of our travel pictures than anyone else. She developed a travel bug while married to a military man and it never went away. At 102, she was still looking forward to many more trips. She was already booked on a Mexican coastal cruise next March and wanted to go on our river cruise in April. She had even looked far enough forward to think about going on one of the July Alaska cruises.

We had just been up to Vancouver on a short trip when she became ill. We returned to her home and she went to see her doctor. He placed her in St. Joseph Medical Center, and early on the morning of Oct. 7, she closed her eyes and embarked on her final journey. Her heart, which guided her on so many adventures, finally took her on this last one.

We all need to take a look at someone like Audrey who lived life to the fullest.  She had her bucket list and enjoyed ticking off the items. 

Life is short. We can spend our last days wishing or we can spend them doing the things we have always dreamed of. Make your plans to come along with us on our senior adventures. Get out and enjoy life while you still can. Most of us will not make it to 102, but we can have fun trying.

 

Linda Finch, who wrote this article, can be reached at 253-927-8207 and linda.finch@gmail.com.

     

Contributing Author by — October 31, 2017 in Lifestyle, Home, Adventures

   As the nearly 75 million baby-boomers in the U.S. enter their 60s and 70s, too many remain in denial about the period between full self-sufficiency and the end of life. With boomers facing the possibility of caring for aging parents at the same time they start to worry about being a burden on their own children, it’s critical to acknowledge this period and its unique set of needs and concerns.

   That’s the view of Melanie P. Merriman, a former hospice consultant who has studied illness, aging, and the medical system. She said mart, capable parents cling to the familiarity of homes that no longer suit them, and refuse the help they need. Adult children try to keep aging parents safe while respecting their autonomy. Finding balance is a constant challenge, and the fear of falling is real, Merriman said.

   In her new memoir, “Holding the Net: Caring for My Mother on the Tightrope of Aging” (Green Writers Press), Merriman shares what she learned firsthand while caring for her fiercely independent, aging mother. Merriman candidly describes her efforts to make her mother’s final years the best that they could be.

   Merriman said her goal is to help readers find more positive moments and deal with the difficult ones by anticipating and planning for the “tightrope” phase.

srmedia by — October 31, 2017 in News

For ages, people have turned to cranberry as a natural remedy for urinary tract infections. The belief was that products such as cranberry juice would prevent bacteria from infecting the tract between the kidney and urethra, providing relief from the burning and discomfort of these common infections. But the truth is out; cranberry is no cure for UTIs.

Given how common UTIs are—nearly half of all women will experience one in their lifetime—companies seized on the perceived remedial capabilities of cranberry for UTIs, and thus was born a market of all kinds of cranberry products. Thus, this folk medicine remedy has been tough to shake. As a specialist in obstetrics and gynecology at Kaiser Permanente Washington, I often have patients who hold this misconception.

I will tell you what I tell them: Cranberries are great, but not for treating UTIs. In fact, they can even be harmful for people taking certain medications.

 

What is a UTI?

 

UTIs are really uncomfortable and really common, especially for women and older adults. They occur when bacteria cause an infection in the urinary tract, creating symptoms that include frequent urination and significant pain when doing so. The body can sometimes flush out an infection on its own, but some serious cases can spread to the kidneys.

UTIs are one of the most commonly diagnosed infections in older adults, but can affect a wide range of ages. In long-term care settings, UTIs are the most frequently diagnosed infection. While men can get UTIs, they are most prevalent in women.

 

How should UTIs be treated? (Hint: Not cranberry)

 

To treat infections, doctors usually prescribe antibiotics. In some cases, doctors may advise rest and a non-prescription medicine for pain.

Doctors do not prescribe cranberry products, because they know there is no science supporting it.  Studies have overwhelmingly found no evidence that cranberry helps treat UTIs. I repeat: There is no evidence that cranberry products help treat UTIs.

An additional concern arises for people taking blood-thinners, a medication that can be affected when consumed along with cranberry products.

Now to be clear, there is nothing wrong with cranberries. They are tasty and contain healthful antioxidants and nutrients. So feel free to enjoy cranberries and cranberry juice. But don’t count on it to cure your UTI.

I offer patients (women and men) these tips that can help prevent UTIs:

  • Drink more water and other liquids may help.
  • When you urinate, take time to empty your bladder as much as possible.
  • Practice good hygiene.

In some cases, I recommend a non-antibiotic treatment for women, estriol vaginal cream, which when prescribed appropriately, can help prevent bacteriuria and recurrent UTI in menopausal patients.

Above all, talk to your doctor if you think you may have a UTI or if you get frequent UTIs.

 

Dr. Adrianne Wesol, who wrote this article, is an obstetrician-gynecologist and serves as the OBGYN Department chief at Kaiser Permanente in Seattle and the chief of staff for the Kaiser Capitol Hill Hospital.

Contributing Author by — October 31, 2017 in Health & Fitness

Nov. 7 is the last day for voters in Pierce and King counties to return their ballots by mail or at official dropboxes provided by the counties. Information on dropbox locations countywide is available for Pierce County voters at 253-798-7430 and co.pierce.wa.us/elections, and for King County voters at 206-296-0100 and kingcounty.gov/depts/elections.

Ballots were mailed to voters on Oct. 20. Registered voters who didn’t get one should contact their county’s elections department.

srmedia by — October 31, 2017 in News